Editor’s Note: This post is one in an ongoing series of posts dedicated to the federal role in early childhood in Mississippi. By Micayla Tatum | Director of Early Childhood Policy As Congress weighs funding decisions for fiscal year 2026, we want to explore the impact of federal early childhood programs in Mississippi. This blog…
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By Grace Breazeale | Director of Research and K-12 Policy The 2025 legislative session came to a close on Thursday, April 3. The Legislature failed to pass a budget for the state government during the regular session, so the Governor must call a special session before July 1. While the regular session was relatively quiet…
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By Micayla Tatum I Director of Early Childhood Policy The legislative session came to a close on Wednesday, April 3, 2025, when the House voted to end the session without passing a budget for the state government, including an appropriations bill for the Mississippi Department of Education or the Mississippi Department of Human Services. As…
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JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi First today released a new Blended Pre-K Toolkit, a comprehensive guide designed to help school districts and Head Start programs expand pre-K access by strategically blending funding sources. According to Mississippi First’s 2023 poll, only 54.8% of Mississippians agree that families have access to affordable pre-K. This toolkit provides a roadmap…
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Committee Judiciary A; Universities and Colleges Author Joey Hood Session 2025 Session Latest Action On April 1, the House adopted the conference report for HB 1193. On April 2, the Senate adopted the conference report for HB 1193. Explanation of the Bill House Bill 1193 prohibits DEI statements and practices in public K-12 and postsecondary…
Read MoreCommittee Public Health and Human Services; Appropriations A Author Kevin Felsher Session 2025 Session Latest Action On March 11, the House voted to concur with the Senate amendment to HB 1063. The bill now awaits the Governor’s signature. Explanation of the Bill HB 1063 creates paid leave for state employees. If passed, a primary caregiver,…
Read MoreCommittee Education; Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency; Workforce Development Author Dennis DeBar Session 2025 Session Latest Action On March 18, the Governor signed SB 2177 into law. Explanation of the Bill Senate Bill 2177 would make a technical modification to the allowable uses of certain vocational education funds. Currently, local districts may apply to receive state funds…
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